During the holidays, St. Lucie County Sheriff's Deputies and Fort Pierce Police Officers concentrated their efforts on suppressing crime in northern Fort Pierce and surrounding unincorporated areas.

Today, Fort Pierce Police Chief R. Sean Baldwin and St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken J. Mascara announced the results of that effort.

"The task force operations are targeting gang members that threaten our community with gun violence," said Chief Baldwin. "Sheriff Mascara and I have a message for gang members: Either stop the violence or spend the rest of your life in prison."

"The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office has a tradition of working hand in hand with the Fort Pierce Police Department," Sheriff Mascara said. "The holiday season two-agency effort is just the latest example."

Sheriff Mascara and Chief Baldwin said the goal was to create a strengthened street presence to prevent crime as well as to make arrests and seize contraband.

The operation took place from Nov. 30 (the Friday after Thanksgiving) through Jan. 4, a period of five weeks. The operation concentrated on night-time street-level crime including drug dealing and weapons violations. Both agencies put extra officers on the streets in the evening hours.

Sheriff Mascara and Chief Baldwin said their agencies would continue to work together to deal with crime in northern Fort Pierce and adjoining unincorporated areas of St. Lucie County.

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